6. Use against Apistan
and Checkmite resistant mites & in IPM programs.

Introduction

Apiguard® is
a natural product specifically designed for use in beehives. It is a
sophisticated slow release gel matrix, ensuring correct dosage of the
active ingredient thymol. Thymol is a naturally occurring substance
derived from the plant thyme. It has a proven high efficacy against the
varroa mite and is also active against both tracheal mite and
chalkbrood.

Apiguard®
is a specially designed and patented slow release gel containing thymol.
Apiguard® gel,
presented in 50 gm ready-to-use aluminium trays, regulates the
liberation of thymol within the honey bee colony and provides a much
more efficient control of hive pests than was possible before.

Apiguard® is
also presented in 3 kg tubs for use by beekeepers with larger numbers of
hives. Dosage tools are included with each tub to ensure correct and
easy dosing. A 25 gm sachet presentation is also in development.

Apiguard® has
no harmful effect on the honey bee colony, neither on brood nor on
adults.

Apiguard® is
extremely easy to use. It is simply a matter of placing the opened tray
face upwards in the top of brood frames, preferably centered over the
colony. After 10 days examine the tray and if depleted replace with a
second tray. If there is product left in the tray after 10 days leave
until day 14 and then replace. Leave a second tray in position for a
further 2-4 weeks and treatment has been completed (duration of
treatment therefore lasts 4-6 weeks).

Apiguard® is
extremely well tolerated by bees and has a low toxicity and hive residue
profile.

Mode Of Action

After administration of the product, homogeneous distribution within the
bee colony is assured by vapor release and also by the bees’ social
behavior (feeding exchange and cleaning activities).

Sublimation: During the first few days, vapor plus solvent is
slowly given off. Unlike some other formulations, or with raw crystals,
this does not disturb the bees. The concentration of the thymol vapor
from the gel gradually increases to a set level.

Contact: Worker
bees climb into the Apiguard® tray
and begin to remove the gel, as a hive cleaning behavior. The gel
adheres to the bees’ body hairs and as the bees run through the hive,
they distribute the product to the colony. The gel that the worker is
carrying is eventually thrown out through the hive entrance, but the
trail it leaves behind on its journey through the brood nest remains
until it too is cleaned.

Apiguard® trials
have been completed in more than 600 honey bee colonies in 10 countries
across Europe, the Middle East and North America .

Apiguard® was
shown to be an easy-to-use treatment (even easier than Apistan!) and,
under normal conditions giving an average efficacy of 93%. Often the
control levels are higher sometimes a little lower.

At low temperatures (shown by trials in
Germany) Apiguard®
takes longer to evaporate and the lower activity of the bees means that
gel is not distributed as efficiently. It is therefore essential to use
Apiguard® when
the colony is active and when temperatures are not too low (above
15°C/60°F). Apiguard will work at lower temperatures, although the
treatment period may need to be extended; the level of efficacy is
generally better at higher temperatures but studies on cool period
treatments are ongoing.